First project takes place on the new Full Mission Bridge simulator

As the Full Mission Bridge (FMB) officially opens and the first project takes place, Report interviews two senior pilots about their experiences at this pioneering new facility.

Aiming to represent reality as much as possible, the FMB has an impressive 16 m wide bridge with a forward and backward view on a cylindrical screen (240° horizontally and 42° vertically). And uniquely, it has bridge wings which have 6 m diameter domes to allow forward, backward, downward and upward views during port and other complex operations.

MARIN’s Project Manager for the pilot training courses, Alex Rietkerk, says that given the sheer scale of the FMB, plus its bridge wings, pilots can have a fully immersive experience and really feel they are on a vessel. “They have a view alongside the ship and can see the hull and quayside, which is a major advantage when carrying out complex manoeuvres. The new bridge also provides more flexibility for simulating different types of vessels, from defence or offshore to LNG carriers. It is certainly one of a kind!”

Testing the wind limits

Both pilots agree that the new simulator is ideal to test working at the wind limits and how to carry out manoeuvres safely.  “The FMB allows us to practice how long a manoeuvre really takes in an emergency situation for example. In the case when we are in conditions above the wind limits, what might happen and how do we keep control of the ship?”

Real-life conditions

The Rotterdam pilots also had the chance to give their input for the specifications when MARIN was designing the new facility. “The North Sea is actually quite shallow, and it doesn’t have stable weather conditions, meaning swells can build up very fast. Therefore, we want to test in real-life conditions. We need to know the under-keel clearance is sufficient taking into account the swell conditions and wave height.

“For us, it is very important that the ship is behaving as it’s supposed to behave. It is not just a matter of putting on a pair of VR glasses – MARIN has invested in a huge, complex and detailed bridge. As pilots we want to be on the bridge of a ship and the FMB puts us there!”

Large-scale, spacious bridge

With the new bridge simulator, we now have a much more spacious, modern bridge that matches the actual situation on a vessel, he says. “The trainees have an immersive environment that feels real, not like they are sitting behind a desk ‘playing a computer game’.  The large-scale size of the FMB is also a benefit because we can keep the co-pilot busy too, we have extra screens, and they can stand next to the main pilot and be much more involved.”

Bridge wings ideal for docking procedures

Carl emphasises: “The wings are a really special feature. It is normally not possible to perform dockings with such accuracy. It is quite something! Sometimes, for example, in the case of the container vessel ‘Ever Ace’ the bridge is 55 m above water level and when you look down you have to be all the way over on the side, the vessel is 61 m wide. During a docking that’s where we stand with the captains to see the approach and to control the ship with the assistance of the tugs. And this is now possible on the simulator.”

Complex scenarios

To make the scenario even more of a challenge, the pilots have to turn the inbound vessel in the 600 m channel when it has been blocked by a large container vessel and without the assistance of tugboats. Leendert says: “They have to stop the vessel by bringing the bow into the current and the ship needs space to swing, yet they have very limited space.” Each scenario includes the exact layout of the port, the infrastructure, together with the currents, wind shielding from buildings etc. “If anything is behaving differently, MARIN helps us to adjust the scenario in the simulator. The support here is fantastic,” Leendert points out.

So, what do two instructor pilots from the pilotage association Loodswezen Rotterdam-Rijnmond region think about this state-of-the-art facility?

The Port of Rotterdam is one of the largest and busiest ports in the world and its pilots have been regular visitors to MARIN for many years. The FMB’s first project is for more experienced pilots carrying out an annual, two-day refresher course for deep draught vessels.

With 40 years of experience between them, instructor pilots Leendert de Jonge and Carl Kraayveld outline the challenging simulator scenario which focuses on the deep-water channel to Europoort. Carl comments: “The channel is 25 m deep, but the under-keel clearance is pretty limited as vessels can have a draught of 22.8 m. This makes this part of the port quite difficult to navigate.”